Huge campaign spending toppled progressive candidates in Colorado
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Big-moneyed interests that injected millions into the 2024 primary election declared victory on Wednesday, saying "the majority in the middle has spoken."
Why it matters: The campaign cash quashed a cadre of progressive candidates in nine key legislative races, preventing a far-left shift at the Capitol.
- But it also sowed deep discord among Democrats who criticized the role of organizations that don't disclose their donors.
By the numbers: The latest tally shows about $5.5 million in outside money from super PACs poured into the election for state House and Senate — the vast majority of which focused on seats in deep-blue districts, according to the Colorado Sun.
- The spending far outpaced what the candidates put into their own campaigns.
Follow the money: Much of the outside spending came from dark-money political organizations backed by wealthy business interests, such as hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, the apartment association and education reform organizations. Other donors included labor unions.
- The money went to more establishment Democrats, rather than progressives who pledged to challenge the status quo. It helped fund voter turnout efforts as well as online advertising and attack mailers, some of which included misleading claims about the progressive candidates' records.
What they're saying: Kent Thiry, whose Let Colorado Vote Action pumped $1 million into legislative races in late June, on Wednesday applauded victories by Democratic candidates committed to "civil and bipartisan behavior."
- "Voters have clearly stated that they are ready for a new approach – one that prioritizes substantive policy over political theatrics," added Andrew Short at One Main Street Colorado, which funded "pragmatic" Democrats over those backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and Working Families Party.
The other side: Political committees with ties to public education, environmental organizations, trial lawyers and labor unions, tried to counter the offense with similar advertising. The super PAC Colorado Labor Action spent more than $728,000 to back some progressive candidates.
- The Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, issued a statement lamenting how "many labor and public education champions [lost] their elections last night because of the corporate money and influence on their races."
- Colorado Working Families Party state director Wendy Howell added: "As Colorado has become a safe blue state, big corporations and the wealthy few know that they must invest in corporate-friendly Democrats in order to keep their interests centered at the state Capitol."
The bottom line: The primary election represented a sea change in Colorado politics. The huge attention and spending on low-interest intraparty contests is the new way moneyed interests plan to shape politics at the state Capitol.